Trained in Blood [Lords of the Expanse 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Honor James

  She nodded. “Me, too,” she whispered and bit her lip. “I’m so afraid. Don’t give up on me. I’m not leaving you but he’s going to fix me, all right?”

  Nodding against her cheek he breathed her in. “I’m never giving you up,” he whispered.

  Dr. Bertram cleared his throat. “My Lord, we need to go. Would you like to hand your son over and I will carry him and you take your wife or would you like me to carry her while you hold your son?”

  Lifting his head he looked to the doctor and then his son and then Violet. He didn’t want the man to touch either of them, but more so Violet. “I’ll carry Violet,” he said and, hesitantly, passed his son to the man, his eyes watchful. Shifting, he gently picked up Violet and winced at her sharp inhale. “I’m sorry, Violet,” he whispered as he gave her a moment to catch her breath.

  She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “Don’t be, love. Just get us there and we will be all right,” she whispered.

  Dr. Bertram spoke to Delfan as he carried the lad. “You have a couple of neighbors that I have a feeling you will become fast friends with. There are several new babies in this general area but the ones you’re going to find yourself befriending are the Mauricio twins. They are wonderful little kids.” Bertram paused and grinned. “But you need to know that their mother, she is a force of nature so just go with it and it will be fine.” He moved toward his flyer and paused. “I will take good care of your mother, lad, I promise you.” He watched as the hatch released and to Titan said, “There is a wooden board on the back bed, strap your Lady wife on that so that when we arrive at medical we won’t have to hurt her any more than necessary.”

  Nodding Titan ducked into the flyer and he laid her down on the board. Strapping her down he crouched by her side as he did up each of the straps. Resting a hand over her forehead he stared into her eyes. “I love you,” he whispered softly to her.

  “I love you, too, Titan,” she whispered and closed her eyes.

  “My Lord, your son.” Bertram offered Titan his son back knowing that the man needed to have both his wife and his son close so that he could watch over and protect them. “I will have us in medical in three minutes, my Lord. Hold tight to them,” he added as he moved from the family and slipped into his seat. Taking off he made the call that he was making an emergency flight in and was assured everything was ready for them and that medics were waiting in emergency flight for them.

  Holding Delfan so that he could see his mother Titan rested his head to her arm needing the contact with her. He was starting to feel the beginning edges of panic hitting him and he was having to fight it down. He hated that she was hurting and that he couldn’t do anything to help her. She was suffering and he was practically useless.

  Four minutes later a litter of people were at the hatch. “My Lord,” Bertram said, “I need you and your son to move so that we can bring your wife into surgery. This is Robin and he will show you where you can wait for me to come with news. Trust me, my Lord, I will protect her and care for her as I would my own wife.”

  Nodding Titan got up and sighed as he touched his wife’s cheek. “Do whatever is necessary, Doctor,” he said softly before he leaned in and kissed Violet. “I love you, Vi,” he whispered to her softly. “We’ll be waiting for you, darling, be safe.” Shifting he moved away and stood watching as they took his wife, his heart a tight knot in his chest.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Two hours later Dr. Bertram came into the holding room and held out a small bottle. “Before we put her under I had one of the female nurses express milk for him. This is one of four bottles for your little one.” He took a seat and watched them. “She is in recovery, my Lord. She’s doing well but I need to talk to you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She will be recovering for at least two weeks, my Lord. There can be no sexual activity in that time and I am going to confine her to her bed on a limited basis for three weeks. If she needs to go shower or use the facilities she will need to be carried if you can convince her. I have a feeling though she will want to be up and walking sooner than later. My wife would be the same way, stubborn through and through. But I will insist she rest as much as possible. She should avoid too much walking for the first week.”

  There was a pause before the doctor continued. “My Lord, the midwife who cut into your wife, where might she be found? Is she a part of your household? How long have you known her?” He saw the anger blooming at the questions. “It was purposeful, my Lord, she was stitched inside with silver thread.” He rubbed his hands on his pants. “I’m not…” Bertram paused and sighed. “I’m not sure if your Lady wife will ever be able to become pregnant again, my Lord. The woman did serious damage to her internally and there is an infection that set in.”

  Titan felt the rage punch through him even though he kept it tamped down carefully as he fed his son. “She was brought in by the other female that was recommended. I did not know her, barely spoke with her, but the first woman I did know at least in passing. I know where the first can be found but not the additional female. You would need to question the first.” Looking down at Delfan he lifted his son and pressing a kiss to the half-sleeping baby’s cheek he looked back to the doctor. “When can I see her?” he asked quietly.

  “As soon as we get your son settled in the nursery with a nurse and guards.” He said quietly, “Your personal guard arrived while I was in surgery. I stationed two of them outside your wife’s door and two outside of this door. I hope you don’t mind my assumptions? I will take the name of the woman and send it to the constable. They need to be brought to justice for attempting to kill your Lady wife, my Lord.” Bertram stood. “Your son can’t go in there, my Lord. I’m very sorry but it’s just not possible yet.” He sighed. “And we will need to begin him on milk supplements. Your wife won’t be able to feed your son. I’m so sorry. Come though, your wife needs you, my Lord. You need to take some blood so that when she wakes you can feed her. Your blood will be far better for her than any we have in store here.”

  Nodding Titan looked to the man. “Would you give me a few moments. I need to get this all sorted in my head before I see her. I also want to ensure that he finishes his bottle,” he said, looking to Delfan.

  When the doctor left Titan stood and walked to the windows to stare out at the city. “I don’t know what to do, Delfan,” he whispered to his son, his emotions in complete and total turmoil. “She is going to be so sad, baby, and I’m having enough troubles with my own emotions. How do I help her?” he asked softly. Looking down at the intense eyes of the newborn Titan shook his head. “I wish you could answer me. Daddy needs a lot of help here, my boy.”

  Delfan just blinked up at his father, unable to give him anything other than the suckling he did of the bottle. Smiling down at his son Titan lifted him and pressed a kiss to his little forehead. “We’ll figure it out, my boy, I promise,” he murmured softly. Looking into those too-clear and too-old eyes Titan let out a sigh. “I hate to let you out of my sight, Delfan, so you have to promise no big leaps in learning while I’m with your mother. If I come out and you are walking and talking we shall be having a rough time of it, my son.”

  Turning from the windows he began to walk slowly across the room and out into the hall to find the doctor. “I’m going to go and see her, Delfan,” he murmured softly as he walked. “I want you to be good for the ones watching you. I will try not to be too long, but I need to be with her, son, just as much as I need to be with you. I’m feeling torn, Delfan,” he said quietly as he stopped before the doctor.

  Bertram nodded. “I can only imagine, my Lord.” He nodded to the nurse behind him. “This is my wife.” He smiled at her and there was true love there in the old Vampire’s eyes. “She is going to be the one with your son, my Lord. Your guards will be there present at all times, I promise.” He looked at the guards behind Delinda, his wife. “They are your guards, is that correct?” he asked the lord. “As soon as your Lady wife is out of the isolation recover
y your son can come and sleep there with the two of you. Give her twelve hours at least though, my Lord.” For her to need as much time as that it was a clear sign to Titan just how bad Violet truly was.

  Nodding to his men he passed Delfan over to the doctor’s wife. “Talk to him please,” he murmured to her softly. “He likes the sound of people’s voices,” he added as she took him. Stroking his fingers down his son’s cheek lightly he smiled slightly. “I’ll be in to see him as soon as I can,” he told her before stepping back and giving a look to his men.

  Looking to the doctor he waited to be taken to his wife, his mind churning as to what to tell her about all that was going on. He wasn’t sure if he should tell her anything, right away. “Has she been awake at all?” he asked Betram as they moved down the hall. “Does she know anything of what has been happening with her?”

  “She is only just waking and no, so far I haven’t told her anything and she shouldn’t be told of anything for a small time, my Lord. Let her body heal before we have to break her heart. My wife and I have three children, two grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He is in good hands, my Lord, I promise.”

  Titan didn’t say anything. He just made a small noise in his throat as he stood in front of the door. “I have never lied to my wife,” he murmured quietly. “She’ll know as soon as she sees me that something is wrong and I can’t keep anything from her. I’ll try to keep it from her for a time, but she’ll know sooner rather than later.”

  “I’m not asking you to lie to her. If she asks and you need to tell her I will stand by that choice. If you want to wait and have me tell her I will as well.”

  “We’ll see how she is doing and what she asks,” Titan said quietly lifting his hand and placing it to the door. “Thank you for all you’ve done, Doctor.” He bowed his head slightly and went into the room. Walking to the bed he pulled a stool close to her bedside. Sitting he very carefully lifted her hand into his, his thumb stroking lightly over her knuckles as he closed his eyes and took a steadying breath.

  Her eyes opened and were clouded with the medication and a small haze of pain. Smiling she gave his hand a weak squeeze. “Hello. See, all better now,” she whispered in a rough-sounding tone.

  Smiling for her he nodded as he fought the need to break down. “Yes, love,” he whispered softly. Reaching out with his other hand he stroked his hand over her hair. “Sleep for now, Vi. You need to let all the drugs work through your system.”

  “Get into bed with me and hold me?” she asked as she let her lids flutter closed. “I need to feel you holding me and know that I’m safe, that our son is safe.” She yawned slightly. “I love you, Titan.”

  Frowning he nodded and, with a glance over his shoulder, he stood and removing his jacket and boots he went around the bed. Sliding in behind her, he moved very carefully and slowly not wanting to jar her. Wrapping his arms around her he let her do any moving from that point on. He was too close and he really hated causing her pain.

  She moved over slightly and wiggled in closer to him. Once her head was on his shoulder and leg between his she sighed. “Much better. I love you.” She pressed a kiss to the side of his neck and nuzzled there for a moment before the soft slow breathing took over as she fell asleep.

  “I love you, too, Violet,” he whispered softly and closed his eyes. Breathing her in slowly he felt his body relax slightly. It was right that he held her in that moment. If only his heart wasn’t aching so much, but that was a worry for later. Letting the weight of her on his shoulder soothe him he slid into sleep with her but stayed in the upper levels. He would not leave her unprotected.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “I need to get up and move, Titan. I’ve been in this bed for nearly twenty-four hours and I’m ready to move. I’m ready to see our son.” She complained once more. “Are you sure that he is all right? He’s eating enough?” Dr. Bertram had been in many hours ago and explained to her that she wouldn’t be able to feed him because of the drugs in her system. She felt there was more but he wouldn’t give her more than that, oh and the big bomb, that he couldn’t come in until the doctor was sure that most of the infection had died down. “I miss him, Titan, so much.”

  “I know, love,” he said, looking to her as he walked to the bedside. He was still for a long moment before he held out his hands to her. “Come on, love. We’ll get you covered up and then we can go and pick up Delfan. I’ll take any grief if Dr. Bertram comes pecking at us. Delfan is just fine. The doctor’s wife has been keeping him happy, fed, and thankfully changed and clean.” Titan wrinkled his nose. “Our men are with them and keeping watch over him. He’s as happy as he can be but he misses you, love.”

  She didn’t even hesitate. She lifted her hands to Titan. “Then she is a blessing. How much longer will I be here?” she asked even as she felt the pain of simply moving. “I thought that I was supposed to heal quickly as a Vampire, Titan. Why do I still hurt so badly?”

  “There was a lot of drugs still in your system, love,” he told her as he helped her slowly from the bed, allowing her move at her own pace. “The drugs that slow your healing for operations also slow your healing abilities after you are out. It will take you some time to push them through and out,” he said once she was standing. Collecting a long robe he slipped it around her and nudged a pair of slippers over with his foot. “Once you take enough blood you will start to feel better. It will help push the drugs out faster.”

  She snorted and shook her head. “Aren’t you hurting enough from how much you have been giving me, Titan? All right, let’s try this.”

  “I’ve been taking in nearly double what you’ve been taking from me, Vi. I’m fine, love,” he said softly. Wrapping his arm around her he gently led her along to the hall. Once outside the guards all straightened and gave her bows of respect. Moving nice and slow with her, he again let her set the pace since she was the one in pain.

  She had to stop halfway to the nursery and simply breathe for several minutes before she could carry on. Finally when they reached the nursery she looked into the glass room and saw Delfan laying there on his back playing with a little ball and smiled. “Hello, my little love,” she whispered before Titan moved them into the room. Seeing the rocking chair she said, “How about I have a seat and you give me a pillow to protect my belly and then bring me our son?”

  “Good plan,” he said and when she was in front of the chair he stepped around before her to give her his hands to use to maintain her balance as she eased down. When she was sitting he handed her a plump pillow and then went to pick up his son. “Hello, Delfan,” he said softly to their son as he crouched and picked him up. Walking to Violet he smiled. “Look who’s here to see you, my son.”

  Delfan’s feet began to kick as he looked at his mother and began to try to reach for her with his mind and his hands. “Hello, my little man,” Violet whispered with a smile as she felt their son’s mind touching hers. “Oh sweetie, I’ve missed you, too,” she said with tears in her eyes as Titan eased him down into her lap. “God, honey, you feel heavier so you must not be missing any meals.”

  “No, he’s been conning everyone and their mothers to feed him,” Titan assured her as he knelt at the side of the rocker. “He’s been taking as many bottles as he can. Our son is a little glutton I think,” he told her with a half smile.

  “He’s just a growing boy,” Violet corrected and stroked her fingers over his lips, smiling as he laughed and kicked even more. She winced as he placed a well-dealt blow and closed her eyes. “No kicking Mommy, little man. She hurts enough and has enough bruises as is.”

  “Shift him a little, Violet,” he suggested and helped her to do just that so his little feet weren’t able to hit her again. “He’s just so excited to see you again.” Looking to her he smiled. “I know the feeling. We were worried about you, love, and I don’t think your son was taking it well at all.”

  “We won’t be parted again, Delfan,” she promised and nuzzled close to her son, brea
thing in his fresh, clean baby scent and smiling. “Daddy and Mommy are taking you home as soon as we can.” She looked up at Titan. “How long until we can go home, Titan? I want to sleep in a real bed with you and have our son close so that I can feed…” She paused and felt the tears demanding freedom. “Feed him bottles.” She didn’t like it, not one small little bit. She didn’t like that she could no longer feed her son, but it made sense since whatever they gave her dried her milk up completely as well.

  Reaching up he wiped at her cheek. “No tears, Violet,” he said softly to her. Shifting he moved his hand to his chest and rubbed at the ache there her tears brought on. “We can go home as soon as you can move about with as little pain as possible. You need to be able to move easily,” he told her softly.

  “Now that is just unfair, Titan.” She grumbled and stroked her fingers over her son’s cheeks once more and smiled when his kicking little form grabbed her hand and began to nibble and suck on her fingers.

  “Doctor Bertram wanted you to be able to stay until you can pick up and carry Delfan. I negotiated it down to moving freely,” he told her softly. Resting his arm to the arm of the chair he propped his chin on it and smiled at Delfan when the baby looked his way. “Be grateful, love, you could have been here for a solid month.”

  “Oh lord, that would be bad.” She tickled her son’s belly and smiled when he let out a gut laugh. “I don’t want to miss any more time with him, Titan, and I want to be home for it.” She looked up at her husband. “Will you help me get up to speed so that I can move around freely?”

  “You know I will, love. We’ll start working on your muscles when we get you back to bed, little exercises that will have the most impact. But you need to pay attention to your body, love. If you feel anything more than the mildest of pains you stop. Don’t explain, just stop and then we’ll figure out what caused the pain and work around and up to it.”